Harold Sare
March 24, 2018
Harold V. Sare, 89, was born on August 8, 1928, to Bertha and Lucian Sare in Yates Center, KS. He passed away on March 24, 2018. After graduating from Bartlesville College High School, he entered the US Army at the end of WW II and served in South Korea, where he served with distinction. Upon returning home, he entered Oklahoma A&M College in 1948, where he studied political science and prelaw. In his first class, he met Mary Lou Rector; and they married in Stillwater in 1950. Shortly after the wedding, Harold was recalled to the Army to serve in Military Intelligence during the Korean War and spent time Japan. That tour was completed in 1952, enabling him to return home to complete his bachelor’s degree. He completed the MA degree at OAMC in 1954 and entered Harvard University to pursue a PhD in government. In 1956, he joined the political science faculty at Emporia State University in Kansas. In 1963, Harold joined the political science faculty at Oklahoma State University. From 1975 to 1982, he served as head of the Department of Political Science. He received the College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Teacher Award in 1975. Upon his retirement in 1986, he received a Regents Service Professorship but continued for several years to teach courses in Asian Studies and US foreign policy. During the 1991-92 academic year, Harold and Mary Lou taught full time at OSU’s branch in Kameoka, Kyoto, Japan. Harold was also active in numerous local and state organizations, including the Stillwater School Board, Stillwater Education Foundation, Oklahoma State School Board Association, Sister Cities Council, Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Stillwater, Stillwater Medical Center Board of Trustees, Stillwater Rotary, and Stillwater Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors. In each of these organizations, he held leadership positions. Harold helped create the OSU Academic Appeals Board, served as the third president of the OSU Emeriti Association, and served as the chair of the OSU Emeriti Investment Club. During his professional life, Harold and Mary Lou traveled widely throughout the world, frequently undertaking research or serving as a lecturer. He had the honor to meet and visit with several US Presidents and world leaders. Harold is survived by his wife Mary Lou, his daughter Victoria Philbrick (Gene), two grandchildren and one great-grandson. He is also survived by two sisters-in-law as well as by several nieces and nephews.